News from the Office/Posts

News from the Office Posts

27th February 2012

Communications organiser
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

27th February 2012

Communications organiser
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

27th February 2012

Communications organiser
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

27th February 2012

Communications organiser
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

27th February 2012

Communications organiser
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

23rd March 2012

Comms Organiser starts - dump shedload of work on him - much more than I would usually but it seems to have motivated him! Charity Commission have rejected the complaint and will file our reply for future use. Assembling PQASSO (Charity evaluation)evidence for review of Charity. IRC session with community - not a huge take-up but fun. AGM notices sent out. Organising payroll from the office for the first time - fingers crossed. Trying to pin down the numbers for Monmouthpedia budget. Set up visitors desks for volunteers etc in office.
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

16th March 2012

Google apps, calendar etc working. Not open source (alas) but very useful. Complaint received about us from Charity Commission. Liaised with Foundation. Predictable issue but must be treated professionally.
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

9th March 2012

ASA satisfied with our explanation. No action. Started organising the AGM in earnest. Exec meeting in Manchester. Lots to discuss but lots of volunteer time involved and two staff days time taken up. Much of this could be done my phone or email? Listened in to Foundation staff 'Metrics' meeting. Quite inspirational. Lots of energy , very little politics with a samll 'p'
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

2nd March 2012

ASA complaint. Finalised reply and sent in. Response within two weeks. Comms post: provided feedback to thirty applicants and interviewed candidates who requested it. Events Organiser started on Thursday.Ooozes enthusiasm and efficiency.
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

27th February 2012

Communications organiser appointed and so from March 19th we will have our core staff of four in place supporting ll the activities of our volunteers and trustees. Great news that there will be four Wikimeets between now and the end of April, London (natch) Monmouth, Liverpool and Manchester. I really enjoyed the one in Cambridge. A great place for Wikimedians to meet and enjoy each other's company.
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

31st January 2012

January swept past and even involved working over the Christmas and new Year to get everything done. We appointed an Events organiser who will soon become familiar to the community, Daria Cybulska, and planned for recruiting the Comms organiser. Hundreds of people interested with a lot of applications to plough through. Sadly despite all our efforts, few Wikipedians applying. I suspect most have established careers or enjoy being volunteers. I could not get to the Finance meeting but has a quick day trip to meet colleagues at Wikimedia France. We have a great deal in common and lots of experiences to share
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

2nd December 2011

This week has been dominated by being at The Foundation offices in San Francisco meeting dozens of key staffers and building relationships for the future. I am writing a report on this that I shared. The final part of the month was occupied with creating systems to ensure the charity works efficiently and properly. I also instituted the employment of the Events and Communications Oragnisers.
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

24th November 2011 - November

• A very busy week. The office has attracted quite a few visitors already and Arne Klempert dropped by today.
• But it isn't all glamour - have spent two weeks on and off ensuring that we are completely insured for any probability. As of 4.30 today we are, just in time for a visit to the Foundation tomorrow.
• Arriving the day after Thanksgiving so expect lots of Turkey soup and sandwiches.
• Will report back from the mother ship.

— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

11th November 2011 - November

• Almost half way through and a lot more has happened.
• On the 14th the fund raiser started. First reports are good despite the world's stock markets crashing in flames all around us. In difficult times people obviously need us even more.
• And a UK office opens at last that is more than a few cardboard boxes in someone's front room.
• Small first steps but we have four desks, four phones and four ethernet cables plus a large supply of tea and coffee. Wireless router imminent.
• Over the next three months this will become the dynamo for all the WMUK activities, supporting volunteers and making the 2012 programme reality.
• Visitors are welcome but email before you want to come in as I am often in other places meeting people.
• And today I am meeting Sue for the first time in a week of activities that should see me completely exhausted by Sunday night.
• Meanwhile in Coventry Richard is holding the fort in the face of the piles of work generated by the fundraiser. Not sure he will be able to sleep for a while.

— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

2 November 2011 - My October

I have now been in post a whole month and wanted to share with you some of the highlights and bring you up to date with our plans and activities:

• Met loads of you at The Herbert in Coventry and also helped Fiona and Richard retain their sanity by running the Wikipedia stall at the Warwick University Fresher's Fair for a while.

• Have met all the trustees and a few ex-trustees to talk about our hopes and plans for 2012. Trip to Brisle next Monday.

• Found us four desks in a charity sharing office from November 14th. Working from home is all very well but my family want their living room back! The address will be:

Wikimedia UK,

Development House,

56-64 Leonard Street,

London

EC2A 4LT

• There will be wireless and hopefully room for people to drop in. Watch this space.

• Enjoyed the EGM - thanks to the stranger who bought me a drink - I owe you.

• Witnessed John training curators at the British Museum

• Spent three days in Berlin being looked after by Wikimedia Deutschland. A lot to learn from them. They have 20 staff and have already outgrown their offices. In their next one they hope to have space for the community with technical resources to help.

• Now planning for budgets, the fundraiser, the next board meeting and Sue Gardner's visit to London.

• ...and spent a few days as a guest of our wonderful NHS - no details but not riding my bike for another week!

— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK